The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-03-03
mere coula surely y, be no quesrlon: ].

. r. TstTEgI Esd JttE@-3 EG.sss.
there coriId surely be no quesrlon:,
} ssAht that was a very, very different
thing, and an icy sweat! broke out on my
forehead, as, hastily rctracing my steps,
hurried toward the camp. When got
within about twenty yards Of the edge of
the wood saw, not a dozen yards away,
a native standing by tree, with his back
toward me. He was in full view from
where stood, but perfectly hidden from
any one in the open. space between the
camp and the wood. -f.. f--.5E.r
ale had his rife up to his shoulder, and
was taking careful aim at something or
somebody. The thought flashed like light
ming across my mind: THE villain! It's
the colonel he's aiming at. My resolu-
ton was taken instantaDeously. IL he
heard me cock my revolver, then, before
could shot him down, he might fire, with
out waiting to take better aim at his uv-
ing mark. ara ID 81 ssssLst@'
.'My hand instinctively frightened its
gripof my revolver as / leaped noiselessly
with a few cat like bounds across the in
tervening space, and before the fellow had
time to look round had feiled him to the
earth. His skull was smashed In, and he
died without uttering cry or a groan.
q 1.-THE next moment the colonel sprang.
forward into view in the open--he had
been hidden before by tree that came
between us. There he stood stock still,
gazing into the wood to my left. He
had evidently heard the sound Of the
blow, slight as it was, but was not sure OF
the direction from which it had pro-
ceeded. His left side was turned almost
full towards me; his right hand shaded
his eyes. -.-..-
"As he gazed intentIy into the wood
heard, faint, yet distinct, a sharp click to
my right. | turned my head IN that di-
rection md there-iny sight was unusu-
ally quick and keen iii those days-I saw
the rusty, discolored muzzle of o gun pro-
Jecttng from the far side Of O large tree
and pointing In the direction Of the
colonel .-.-. ...+ 81 i-..... ..".s'.
THE man that held it was COMPLETELY
hidden from me by the tree What could
L do? Was 1 to stand there, impotent rs
a baby to. avert TIE danger, and see NV
colonel shot down like O dog2 ,.....,
"A Shout Of warning would have been
worse than useless; It would simply
have fastened the fatal catastrophe. 1
could not fire at the Indian. for
he was completely out of sight
there was no part Of him to be seen.
Even had there been, it would have
avalle1 me nothing, unless could have
klAed MIN lnstantaneously. A bullet in
the leg would not probably have made
him Vince or alter his aim by hairs
breath, for the fellows were either rcru-
lar stoics or utterly insensible to main.
One casual glance had sIficed to show me
did mention that my eyes were extraor-
dinarily good?-'telescopa and microscope
combined, they used to say-that that
ann was directed full upon the motionless
colonel's left temple. III
"A moments reflection decided me-
there was but one chance left, q desperatc
one, but still it was chance.
II grasped my revolver firmly in NV
hand, despatched as it was with floosl
and brains; then, without cockire II. for
1 knew that the faintest sourd made bv
me at this juncture would nave been the
coionels death signal, |. took steady aim
az point about a gard from his head, in
inc line that knew the bullet must take
nom the rifle OF the native to his temple.
might have aimed at the muzzle of Ais
rlile had l not known that the moynent
the click of my revolver was herd tho
death dealing bullet would be on. rs way.
when L think OF that momena Of aaoniz-
ing suspense my words seem to stick in
my throat. - s.,n H..ss'-7. - SS'f
These things tafe time in the TELLING.
but, by lingo! IEhey look literally no time
in the dotng. Pom my honor, 1 could
hardly expect you to believe the end of
my story, but that you know. like rayself.
that truth is stranger than fiction
We'll, took steady aim ct the spot
mat i knew the bullet must pass. and
fixed it as immovably as If the muscles of
my arm had been q blacksmith's vice, so
that, when the moment came, Knight fire
without looking at 1t again. Then with
my eyes fixed on the muzzle of the rife
watched it---not second had elapsed since
heard 1t cocked-then raised the ham
mer oil my revolver, hardly daring to
breathe, lest L should alter the aim by the
breadth of Gossamer thread.
LAS had anticipated, inc moment tbe
click reached the ears OF the would be as
sassin, and before the report of his shot
reached my cars, l saw the bullet leave
the barrel of his rifle That instant
pressed tho trigger. 1t was q desperate
attempt, as said before, but It vas sue
cessfui. The colonel did not falli lie
was saved! O. .f Div a. = ..-F = LII
: my first thought, or instinct, was to
IRE at the dark form dying away among
the trees. brought him down, and the
coionel rushed toward me with his own
reVoiVer reapy tor use. lie recognized
me On the instant, and demanded an ex-
PLANTATION Of the three shots that he had
heard. told him and he paled under his
sunburn! i ego
) Dare he said, with an almost impcr-
ceptiblc trenlor in his yoice-'Dare. Won
have saved my life twice over AS stood
there listening / heard strange sharp
sound close to my car, and picked up
this showing me in the palm of his hand
a large, shapelesss lump of lead, which
proved on examination to be the two bull
lets inscparably welded together
HE grasped my hand, covered with the
gore of his late would be murderer.
Thanks, my brave fellow; your cour-
age and presence of mind shall not 60 I'M
rewarded
/. "And may mention, in passing, that
the gallant colonel kept his word. 5a#
Eve SURPASSED afterward that the two
natives had crcpt up like snakes through
the long grass unperceived by our poor
fellows, who were probably rendered
drowsy by the intense heat; had come I'M
to each man from behind, and strangled
him before he could utter cry or give
the alarm to his comrades. aOl1
And now l am sure you win all ac-
that the colonels was one of
the narrowest SLAVES man might wish
TO haye-almost equal to one of my own
adventures among the Zulus, which I
hope to tell YOU on some future evening"
This was the majors story. l am bound
to believe that every word uttered by my
superior officer is true; you, of course, are
free to do as you please London
Society. SIS - - fss EI2a
Purity of Ice.
The state board Of health OF New York has
recently pubiisheda report on the purity ot
Ice from Onondaga lake, tho Erie canal at
Syracuse and Cazenovia lake. That from
Onondaga lake was regarded as dcrimentalto
health. At the time the inspection OF thfs